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| Book tag |
| Friday, November 21, 2008 |
I am taking up this Tag from Archana and Altoid. My life is currently uninteresting, nothing much to report.
Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
Yes, I was 10 years old, in Bombay. I tagged along with an elder girl to the library. I read a page from the book, as we walked, and my interest was very much piqued. I told my Dad that evening about the book. Later on, I remember writing the names of books in a small sheet and giving it to Dad as he went to work, and he brought me one book a day from a library by his office. I used to finish one book in one day, even I am amazed I did that. I wore glasses in Std 7, and my Dad says it was because I spent days and nights reading books lying down on bed with very little light.
What are some books you read as a child?
After we moved to Chennai, the first thing me and my Dad did was to find a local library, Renga Lending Library, my resource for books for the next several years. I started reading big time from Std 7 to college. I was always in the middle of a book at any point in time. Never bookless. I remember reading in the bus I took to school or tuition or IIT classes all the way to KK Nagar, I remember reading the book as I walked from the bus stop to the school, so engrossed was I.
I guess I read the usual books, most of Enid Blytons, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers, St Claires, Five Find Outers, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Agatha Christie, Michael Crichton, Jeffery Archer, Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham, Ken Follet, Arthur Hailey, Robin Cook, Tom Clancy, Irwing Wallace.
Sadly reading came to a full stop when I reached US.
What is your favourite genre?
Hm I have come to realize change is the only constant in life. While my favorite genre as a kid was mystery and suspense, Now I dont think I can read books of fiction, unless its of the best like Kite Runner. Proof are the books dog earred in my book shelf, Focaults Pendulum ( from long long ago), Twelfth Wife (which I almost finished), Shantaram (long way to go, considering the size of the book). If I read these books with breaks, I get distracted, I lose the momentum and the interest. If you cannot get what you like, you have to like what you get. So currently, my favorite is business books with light story. Only because I have been successful in completing them till the end. And because it is generally okay to have a big break and read from where you left off. These books have to be read slowly and assimilated. The good thing about them is I dont feel like I am wasting time, which is a very wrong notion that I started having about reading ever since I landed in this country.
Do you have a favourite novel?
Jurassic Park would be my first favorite novel. I was so amazed that someone can even think of such plots, and can weave story out of creatures that have been extinct for several years. The same about Da Vinci Code fascinated me, the plot, and the awe of the research that must have gont into creating the piece. Of course how can I forget the Harry Potter series. The creativity of J K Rowling is commendable. I do remember the first book of the series that I read alone in my room when I was grad school, heart beat racing with tension and suspense.
Where do you usually read?
On my bed, when I was a kid. Vacations started off with me waking up, drinking coffee/tea going straight back in the book where I left off the previous night right there on the bed. Now I read while burning calories at the gym. Me and DH like to spend time at local Borders reading on Sunday evenings. I dont like to sit in the living room and read books, somehow it gives me the feeling for a loser or loner. That is also because I dont want to waste precious together time with DH reading. Apart from that lonely long flights.
I have to give a titbit here and pull DH's leg. DH's favorite place to read books in college, classroom ;--) And I am not kidding.
Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
Yes. Now I do. But it usually means some books are doomed to be left unread. When I was a kid, reading mystery novels, no.
Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
Yes I think so. Fiction on my bed lying down. Non-fiction, if I read on my bed there is a high probability I might doze off before turning a single page.
Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I do all of them. I buy books on impulse, thats the only impulse shopping I do. If I read a good review about a book, and I just have to get my hands on them, I just go to the store and buy it. DH oftens taunts me for that, my impatience. Its partly due to the fact that my Dad never ever let me buy any of the crisp new books I eyed longingly at Higginbothoms. And they were so expensive too. Now I have started using my company library much better. And I am also borrowing books from friends, but unfortunately I dont have too many real-life book-savvy friends.
Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
Yes I definitely do. I packed a bunch of books and sent them off to India to rot in the attic at home, thinking I will be returning to them soon, and claim them. My collection here is growing very much, I have no clue how I will transport them back to India, when I do move. But no I would never ever give it off or sell it off, I just love owning books. Currently I have several yet-to-be-read books that I picked at local library sales long time back. Hopefully I will get to them someday.
If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
Erm.. I dont have any children, but I would definitely want my kids to be voracious readers. One of the few habits DH and I have in common is reading books. I wouldnt force anything on them. But I would give them access to the library so they know what is out there.
What are you reading now?
Only the paranoid survive - Andy Grove
Juggling Elephants
Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Uh-ho yes. I have a list made in the online library, I am trying to spread the requests out so I can finish the ones I check out.
What books would you like to reread?
Hmm at present I cant think of any.
Who are your favourite authors?
Michael Crichton, Paulo Coelho, Khaleed Hosseini. |
posted by SK @ 4:52 AM  |
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| 5 Comments: |
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Crichton is my fav author too! He passed away recently. Did you know?
And see see, history repeats itself! Now that am in US, my reading habit has deteriorated. And you tell me "schools have library" :p
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your taste in books is very similar to mine.As a kid, I was a voracious reader too :).Mallory towers/nancy drew/Enid Blytons- remember the far away tree series.. I think those were my first real books.
Crichton is my fave author too .. I dont like Coelho tho :).Currenlty I am in Jodi Picoult craze. Hussaini is brill too :)
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You taste in book is similar to mine too! Crichton is my all time fav. I like Hosseni. Though, I hate Coleho. I recommend Bram Stokers, Dracula. Bestest I have read!
@adi: Macha! Free library da and you can borrow for a month. How can your reading lib deteriorate?
@daisy: I used to love Malory towers.
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oh my gosh ! You just reminded me that you introduced me to St. Claire's and Malory Towers and were therefore indirectly responsible for my hostel stints :) Sidney Sheldon too, although I could not really get hooked on to that.
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Adi,
Yes I heard abt Crichton from a blogger friend. And hey, cmon I did read Harry Potters and Calvin and Hobbes while in Grad school atleast in the Summer. ;--) So no excuses! :--))
Daisy,
Oh yes remember all those! Noddy as well! And Naughtiest girl in the school series! Bliss no?!
I like Coelho for his DEEP insights into the human mind ;--)
Ram,
Hehe I guess most kids in India have grown up with similar books. Dracula-va, ayooo, already we watched Twilight this weekend and am done with vampires for a while!
And.. errr.. you like Malory Towers? Too bad boysku adhu madhiri books ille. hehe.
Krithika,
LOL! :--) I do remember giving those books to you! You mean stunts?! Heheh, As long as you had fun! :--)
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Crichton is my fav author too! He passed away recently. Did you know?
And see see, history repeats itself! Now that am in US, my reading habit has deteriorated. And you tell me "schools have library" :p